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268 Appendix D. Site Reports—Japan
One of the researchers has developed a terahertz spectrometer capable of
probing molecular vibrations in the 15-30 cm -1 range. At the time of the
WTEC visit, this spectrometer appeared ready to be applied to real problems.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
In the short time it has existed, the NAIR cluster group has put together
some of the best approaches of any group in Japan to study fundamental
science issues. They began with virtually no equipment in 1993 and have
designed and built a series of sophisticated apparatuses, each focused on
probing a specific fundamental issue of cluster science. The unfortunate
event was the termination of this effort in March of 1998. In this particular
instance, the researchers are just beginning to harvest the results of careful
and thoughtful design of state-of-the-art equipment. In at least one instance
the apparatus was just coming on line at the time of the panel’s visit, and that
particular scientist will have only a few months to generate data before
termination of the program.
It was the WTEC panel’s perception that several of the researchers
(almost all fairly young) did not yet have positions to which they could
move. Some of the older researchers obviously will be able to return to their
sending organization, but several were hired directly into this project and
had no ties to any outside organization. We were informed that each
researcher will be allowed to keep his equipment in the new position, which
is certainly good news, but “the termination of the program” was a theme
that had certainly raised the anxiety level of many of the staff. The quality
of the research and the novelty with which these young researchers have
approached science could serve as a model for other groups in Japan;
namely, the researchers were allowed (even encouraged) to identify
interesting cluster science problems and then design experimental apparatus
to probe these problems, rather than to just buy equipment. This appears to
have born fruit, but the fruit may dry up before harvest can occur.